Spacek Offered Longer Contract

Many were skeptical last June when the Panthers drafted Jaroslav Spacek in the fifth round and said the Czech defenseman would probably make the team right out of training camp.

But after a rookie campaign in which he led the Panthers with a plus-15, Spacek exceeded expectations as one of the top defensemen.

Now the Panthers are looking to lock Spacek up for years to come.

Chuck Fletcher, the Panthers' assistant general manager, said Tuesday that he met with Spacek's agent, Steve Freyer, in Boston this weekend and began talks on a long-term contract.

"Doing a contract longer than a one-year deal with Spacek gives us the flexibility to improve the numbers and gives him more security," Fletcher said. "Jaro, at age 25, is a prime candidate to get a longer-term deal. He's at the prime of his career.

"[Freyer] and I talked and it went well. Nothing is imminent, but we both understand where the other guy is coming from."

Spacek, Bret Hedican and Viktor Kozlov are the more notable Panthers who will become restricted free agents Thursday. The Panthers began faxing qualifying offers to all their Group II free agents Tuesday in order to retain their rights.

The other free agents are Chris Wells, John Jakopin, Ryan Johnson and Todd MacDonald.

"It should be a real quiet summer as far as our restricted free agents," Fletcher said. "We certainly don't anticipate many hurdles to clear. Having said that, it seems like players and their agents are never in a hurry to get a contract done over the summer, so it may take a little time."

Fletcher said he has not talked to Kozlov's agent, Paul Theofanous, or Hedican's, Brian Lawton, about contracts. He said the Panthers would be interested in short-term or long-term deals, but it's doubtful the two will be given significant raises.

"As part of any negotiation for every player, you have to look at team performance," Fletcher said. "We haven't made the playoffs two years in a row, so I think everybody's mind-set is, `Let's get back and improve and we'll worry about other issues after that.'"

Kozlov signed a one-year contract last season because he hoped to have a breakthrough year and get a dramatic pay increase when this contract expired. Although he did have his best season statistically, 51 points and a plus-13, Kozlov was considered a disappointment and might consider signing another one-year deal.

"Depending on who his linemates are next year, he could have a real opportunity to jump forward," Fletcher said. "We have to decide if we want to consider a longer deal or if we want to keep him on a shorter leash and sign him to a one-year deal. Sometimes when you sign a one-year deal, it's easier to get to a common ground as far as compensation."

Trade or buyout likely

If they cannot trade Kirk Muller or Terry Carkner by Thursday, it is believed the Panthers will buy them out for two-thirds of their contract salaries.

Dino Ciccarelli and Alex Hicks are also buyout candidates.

"We've talked over certain scenarios on certain players, but we are still exploring one or two other fronts or possibilities," Fletcher said. "We'll see in the next couple of days and then make decisions. By moving [Johan] Garpenlov and [Gord] Murphy [to Atlanta], it did improve our flexibility with our roster and budget. So it has allowed us to look at things a little different.